Perception of BDS students and fresh graduates about significance of professional ethics in dentistry

To assess the awareness level of undergraduate dentistry students as well as fresh graduates about the significance of professional ethics.

The cross sectional study was conducted among the 3rd, 4th and final year male and female BDS students as well as fresh graduate Interns from the College of Dentistry, King Saud University from January to June 2011. The students were asked to give their opinion about need for applications of professional ethics in dental practice on a five point Likert Scale varying from 'strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree'. Minitab statistical software was used for data analysis.

Students at all levels considered professional ethics a very important prerequisite for dental practice with overall mean value of 4.42 +/- 0.36. However, the responses from the senior academic levels were significantly on the higher side compared to those from the junior grades. Generally the religious teachings and spirituality was considered as one of the top most motives for practicing professional ethics in dentistry followed by reputation, financial benefits, fear of punishment and self projection, with overall mean values of 3.93 +/- 0.58, 3.81 +/- 0.49, 3.25 +/- 0.94, 3.21 +/- 1.07 and 3.16 +/- 1.04, respectively.

The present findings revealed that Professional Ethics is appreciated by the students as a highly significant factor for their success in dental practice as well as acquiring a good name and position in the society.